OPPOSITIONS CALL FOR URGENT MOTION OF NO CONFIDENCE IN ZUMA

Democratic Alliance leader, Mmusi Maimane, has said in a statement that the Economic Freedom Fighters are to request that National Assembly Speaker, Baleka Mbete, schedules an urgent sitting of Parliament for next Tuesday, where the EFF will table a motion of no confidence in President Jacob Zuma.

"A letter from the EFF will be sent to her office reflecting this urgent call. This will allow for Parliament to debate and vote on the EFF's motion of no confidence in Jacob Zuma.

"Parliament elects a president, and Parliament removes a president. It is not done behind closed doors at Luthuli House," Maimane said. He has also called for an urgent sitting of Parliament's programming committee to finalise Parliament’s agenda.

Maimane called on Ramaphosa to support the call for a motion, to ensure that it is debated without delay.

"Lastly, we flatly reject any amnesty agreement or special deal for President Zuma. He is not above the law, and must still face the 783 criminal... [counts] illegally dropped over a decade ago and which the courts have now revived."

South Africans, including the ruling ANC, are growing increasingly frustrated with President Jacob Zuma and his stubborn refusal to heed the calls to put in his resignation.

Cyril Ramaphosa, the newly elected president of the African National Congress, has been in talks with Zuma since Tuesday's announcement that the State Of The Nation address, scheduled for Thursday evening, has been postponed. It seems, however, that the discussions have been fruitless as Ramaphosa has cancelled all his appointments over the next few days to deal with the situation.

A leaked recording has revealed that ANC treasurer general, Paul Mashatile, said that "Zuma was refusing to resign and the ANC will be forced to recall him". He is also heard saying, the "best possible way is if the state president exits".